Title: The End of the Wild Author: Nicole Helget Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 978-0-316-24511-1 This tender middle grade book covers a lot of ground from fracking and rural poverty to PTSD and grief to foster care, custody and divorce. It might seem like a lot but each issue folds into the other and […]
News & Views
The Pants Project
Title: The Pants Project Author: Cat Clarke Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge I love the premise of this book: 11-year-old Liv likes the uniform at her new middle school (especially the tie) but hates wearing the skirt. Right from the start, it’s impossible not to see the dress code is sexist and archaic. But when we […]
Big Sur Writing Workshop
With help from an Access Copyright Foundation Professional Development Grant, I travelled all the way to Big Sur, California this weekend to attend a writing workshop hosted by the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and the Henry Miller Library. It was an illuminating and inspiring experience that was at times overwhelming (and exhausting). On the craft […]
George
Title: George Author: Alex Gino Publisher: Scholastic Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 978-0-545-81254-2 To be honest, George is not the most well written middle grade book I’ve ever read. But the topic is very important and the story is engaging so I recommend it – especially for teachers and librarians. It’s a quick read that would be great […]
Ghost
Title: Ghost Author: Jason Reynolds Publisher:Atheneum Books for Young Readers Reviewer: Yolanda Ridge ISBN: 978-1-4814-5015-7 Well, I knew this book would be good – it was a National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature, after all – but I didn’t expect it to be as good as it is. Suitable for grades five and up, Ghost is […]